TV Tokyo has announced it will suspend broadcasts of the popular "Pocket Monsters" cartoon series pending an investigation into last week's outbreak of convulsions and fainting that afflicted about 700 viewers.

The National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan said it will report on its investigation results as early as February. Broadcasting industry sources expect the suspension of "Pocket Monsters," popularly known as "Pokemon," which has been airing on Tuesdays since April, to remain in effect until at least mid-January.

In the wake of the Pokemon incident last week, the association decided to set up new guidelines for cartoons. TV Tokyo said it decided to cancel "Yearend Pocket Monsters! Encore," scheduled Dec. 31, "Pokemon Quiz," scheduled Jan. 1-3, and the regular weekly "Pocket Monsters" on Jan. 6. "We want the association to expedite its investigation," a TV Tokyo executive said.

"Pokemon" -- a 30-minute weekly animated show based on Nintendo Co.'s best-selling portable video game of the same name -- is broadcast nationwide by TV Tokyo and its affiliates and is one of the most popular shows in its time slot. A series of explosions and flashing lights during a scene from last week's episode is believed responsible for sending nearly 700 viewers to hospitals with convulsions and other maladies.

More than 10 stations affiliated with TV Tokyo have already decided to suspend broadcasts for an indefinite period. TV Tokyo and its 37 network stations currently run the program each week. The Tokyo-based broadcaster requested that the 31 local stations that haven't yet aired the episode in question to refrain from doing so.

It was scheduled to be broadcast on those channels tonight.